Friday, November 7, 2014

Having spoken to family and friends, I have decided to add some more photos and comments on Boorara.

Verandah along the old shearers quarters.

David and I went over a few months back to see what, if any, work the National Parks have done to improve the place.

The bore has been repaired and the grass was freshly mown. Some of the older vehicles had been moved to one location opposite the fibro dwelling that was the Boodgerie out station.

The workshop area.

I was disappointed to see the Boorara sign had been removed from the properties gate, and in wandering around found that all the roses has been taken.

Mrs MaGrath had award winning roses and they were quite a feature of homestead life.

Steam Tractor lies in ruins beside the road to Boorara.

Dave and I reluctantly decided to enter some of the buildings to see what condition they were in. Sadly, the main home has solid evidence of termite activity and water damage. The recent extensions, look poor as a result, but in no way as bad as the main home who's pise structure has really suffered.

Not much to say here...

Some of the out buildings were worse, as you can see by the photos. The managers cottage bathroom was in bad shape, as the shower head was running which has rusted to old bath tub out. Try as we might we could not turn it off.

The rusted out bath tube in the managers home.

We walked about, had a look at the workshop, and other buildings.

There is no power, as the 90 year old Lister generator was sold off at the clearing sale, and the National Parks rightly don't want to add power if its going cause a fire, until its tested, and here is the concern-

Will National Parks restore Boorara to its former glory? Its history as a Kidman property then purchased in 1930 by William MaGrath, and from that time, uncle Jim was overseer until his retirement. Its history is rich.

Uncle Jim Cotter Standing on top of one of the mud springs, with his Harley Davidson, at the entrance to Boorara

Or will Nat Parks do what they did to Caiwarro? Just allow it all to decay. Something Nat Parks are excellent at- measuring decay and decline. It remains to be seen.

Here in Australia we have a cringe mentality towards our pastoral history. Those in politics who lean to the left, would want to wipe it from our countries story.

Emu Hall. The late William Magraths Penrith residence.

Perhaps we can all sit in the dirt and weave baskets?

Dave and I left Boorara silently, wondering what Jim Cotter and William MaGrath would be thinking.

" So remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Be curious and however difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at. It matters that you don't give up" Prof. Hawkins 2012